Self-reported Pro-environmental Behavior Research Articles

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION TO BOOST PRO-ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOUR IN REDUCING PLASTICS CONSUMPTION AMONG STUDENTS IN UNIVERSITAS BINA DARMA PALEMBANG

This study investigates university students' perception, attitude, and self-reported pro-environmental behaviour concerning plastic consumption and pollution pre- and post-environmental education (EE). There were 161 students participating in the EE and completing questionnaires. These data were collected from the students of Universitas Bina Darma in Palembang, Indonesia. The analysis process employed Wilcoxon sign-rank tests. The findings exhibit that students perception, attitude, and self-reported pro-environmental behaviour regarding plastic consumption and pollution significantly increased after the implementation of environmental education. This study can benefit universities, governments, and non-governmental bodies for policymaking and other environmental decisions to reduce plastic consumption and pollution for more sustainable future. KEYWORDS: Plastic Pollution, Indonesia, Sustainability, Environmental Education, Ethical Consumption

Social Preferences and Environmental Behavior: A Comparison of Self-Reported and Observed Behaviors

Faced with the depletion of natural resources and climate change, individuals making the choice to behave in a more environmentally conscious way is increasingly necessary. Rational choice theory suggests that individuals will only behave in pro-environmental ways if they perceive those actions to align with their own self-interests. Others, however, have highlighted instances where individuals act pro-socially or altruistically, deviating from their own self-interests for the benefit of others. The present study examines whether individuals’ social preferences are associated with engagement in pro-environmental behaviors. Specifically, drawing on a methodology from behavioral economics, we use dictator and ultimatum game behavior to measure social preferences, and we then evaluate whether heterogeneity in social preferences is associated with self-reported pro-environmental behaviors and observed recycling behavior. The results indicate that individual differences in social preferences have a modest association with self-reported pro-environmental behaviors but no association with observed recycling behavior. Self-reported pro-environmental behavior was not associated with observed recycling behavior. We also find that recycling bin proximity to classroom doors increased participation in recycling. This finding demonstrates that individuals are receptive to the proximate opportunity to recycle. This suggests increasing the ease with which people can engage in pro-environmental behaviors, such as recycling, will promote participation in these practices. Overall, our research indicates that social preferences do not seem to drive individuals to act in environmentally friendly ways. This work also provides new opportunities for future research to integrate economic games into the study of pro-environmental behaviors.

Facets of Mindfulness in Stages of Behavior Change Toward Organic Food Consumption

ObjectivesThe preference of organically grown foods can potentially decrease greenhouse gas emissions, which are related to climate change. Recent empirical studies suggest associations between dispositional mindfulness and self-reported pro-environmental behavior. In order to identify the potential and mechanisms of mindfulness with regard to pro-environmental behaviors, it is necessary to consider theories of action.MethodsThe present study examines the relationship between five facets of self-attributed mindfulness and organic food consumption considering a stage model of behavior change that includes different types of intentions and stage-specific predictors adapted from the theory of planned behavior and the norm-activation model. A cross-sectional online study was conducted with a sample of 560 participants. The mean age of the participants was 30 (SD = 10.5) years, and the sample consisted largely of females (76%). A minority reported regular meditation practice (8%).ResultsThe multivariate analyses showed a significant relationship between observing and goal intention (β = .317, p < .000) as well as the indirect effects of observing on goal intention that is mediated by personal norms and attitude. Further, people in the postaction stage have higher levels of observing than those in the predecision stage (p = .003, d = .43). Overall, the mindfulness facets contribute low to the explained variance of the stage model variables.ConclusionConsistent across the analyses, the mindfulness facet of observing was proved to be a particularly relevant predictor of organic food consumption-related variables. The investigation of the observing facet could be beneficial to understand associated mechanisms and starting points to promote pro-environmental behavior through mindfulness.

The Role of Urban/Rural Environments on Mexican Children's Connection to Nature and Pro-environmental Behavior.

Living in rural areas has been described a driver for behaving in a pro-environmental way, mainly due to the more frequent contact with nature that people from rural areas have. However, the processes that link living in a rural area and behaving in a more ecological manner have not been systematically studied. Moreover, most studies have focused on adults living in developed countries. Given the importance that the actions conducted by people in developing countries have for the future of the environment, as well as the relevance of children’s pro-environmentalism for nature conservation, we present a brief research report examining the relationship between Mexican children’s place of residence and self-reported pro-environmental behavior (PEB). Participants were 200 children from Mexican rural areas (<1,000 inhabitants) and 200 from a Mexican urban city (>150,000 inhabitants). Children were between 9 and 12 years old. Children’s connection to nature was considered as a mediator in the relationship between children’s place of residence and PEB. Our findings revealed that rural children hold a stronger sense of connection to nature and behave in a more pro-environmental way than urban children. In addition, place of residence was directly and positively linked to their PEBs, and this relationship was mediated by children’s connection to nature. The relationship between connection to nature and PEB was stronger for girls than for boys. The model explained 45% of the variance of children’s self-reported PEBs.

Associations between pro-environmental behaviour and neighbourhood nature, nature visit frequency and nature appreciation: Evidence from a nationally representative survey in England

Progress on changing human behaviour to meet the challenges of regional and global sustainability has been slow. Building on theory as well as small-scale survey and experimental evidence that exposure to nature may be associated with greater pro-environmentalism, the aim of the current study was to quantify relationships between exposure to nature (operationalised as neighbourhood greenspace, coastal proximity, and recreational nature visits) as well as appreciation of the natural world, and self-reported pro-environmental behaviour for the adult population of England. Using data from a nationally representative sample (N = 24,204), and controlling for potential confounders, a structural equation model was used to estimate relationships. Indirect effects of neighbourhood exposures via nature visits and nature appreciation were accounted for. We found positive relationships between both recreational nature visits and nature appreciation and pro-environmental behaviour across both the whole sample and key socio-demographic groups. The more individuals visited nature for recreation and the more they appreciated the natural world, the more pro-environmental behaviour they reported. Although rural and coastal dwellers tended to also be more pro-environmental on average, patterns were complex, potentially reflecting situational constraints and opportunities. Importantly, positive associations between pro-environmental behaviours and high neighbourhood greenspace and coastal proximity were present for both high and low socio-economic status households. Improving access to, and contact with, nature, e.g., through better urban planning, may be one approach for meeting sustainability targets.

Consideration of environmental factors in reflections on car purchases: Attitudinal, behavioural and sociodemographic predictors among a large UK sample

Encouraging the purchase of low-emission vehicles could reduce the environmental impact of growing global car ownership. To date, however, there is relatively little research into the degree to which environmental features, such as reduced CO2 emissions, are considered important when reflecting on car purchase decisions using large representative samples. This issue was explored using data from wave four (2013/14) of the UK Household Longitudinal Study, weighted to be representative of the UK population (N = 12,895). Principal components analysis identified three types of considerations during car purchase reflections: Utilitarian, Image-conscious and Environmental. Logistic and Ordinary Least Squares regressions identified attitudinal, behavioural and sociodemographic predictors of reporting environmental considerations during car purchase. Consideration of environmental factors during reflections on car purchases was more likely among those with higher climate change concerns and topic engagement, as well as self-reported pro-environmental behaviours more generally. Environmental considerations were also higher amongst women, older adults, non-white ethnic groups, urban residents and among individuals in Scotland (vs. London). Contrary to previous findings, richer and more educated respondents were less likely to consider environmental factors, with income positively related to image factors such as brand. Although our findings offer some support for the pro-environmental attitude–behaviour consistency hypothesis, they also highlight key non-attitudinal, sociodemographic factors underlying car purchase reflections that may help social-marketers and policy makers identify key audiences to more effectively promote low-emission vehicle purchases.

Nature Experiences and Adults' Self-Reported Pro-environmental Behaviors: The Role of Connectedness to Nature and Childhood Nature Experiences.

This cross-sectional study aims to improve our understanding of the psychological pathways behind the commonly reported link between experiences in nature and pro-environmentalism. Particularly, we explore whether nature experiences lead to self-reported pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) and whether this relation is mediated by connectedness to nature. Additionally, we examine the possible lasting effect of childhood experiences with nature on adults’ PEB. Most studies reporting on the link between contact with nature and pro-environmentalism have been conducted in developed countries, limiting the generalization of the results. To address this gap in the literature, the current study was conducted in a developing country (Brazil) with a sample of 224 young adults. According to our findings, greater contact with nature during childhood is associated with greater contact with nature as an adult, which, in turn, is positively associated with connectedness to nature and PEB. The stimulation of pleasant experiences while in direct contact with nature during childhood seems to trigger interactions with nature in adulthood and consequently, adults embrace pro-environmental actions.

The role of employees' leadership perceptions, values, and motivation in employees' provenvironmental behaviors

Abstract Despite the importance of employees' proenvironmental behaviors (PEBs) for the success of corporate sustainability initiatives, there is limited evidence on the mechanisms that facilitate such behaviors. We address this research gap by exploring the factors that underlie employees' PEBs. Drawing on leadership and motivation theories, we develop and test a model of the factors that facilitate employees' PEBs. We focus on employees' 1) perceptions of their immediate managers' environmental transformational leadership, 2) environmental values and 3) internal and external motivation to perform PEBs. Structural equation modeling (SEM) of self-report survey data from 251 manufacturing employees found that employees who saw their managers as engaging in greater environmental transformational leadership reported higher internal and external motivation. Employees' environmental values were also positively associated with their internal and external motivation. Moreover, employees' values moderated the link between leadership and motivation; leadership perceptions were most positively related to internal motivation when employees possessed strong environmental values. Thus, environmental transformational leadership may be most effective in boosting internal motivation among employees who possess strong environmental values. Employees' internal, but not external, motivation was positively related to their self-reported PEBs, suggesting that increasing internal motivation may be particularly important to facilitating PEBs. Employees' leadership perceptions had a direct positive relationship with their self-reported PEBs. Overall, our findings reinforce the importance of immediate managers' leadership, and provide new evidence suggesting that employees' values influence their responses to that leadership. Further, internal motivation may be a key mechanism by which employees' leadership perceptions and values are linked to PEBs.

Understanding the impact of volunteering on pro-environmental behavioural change

This article examines whether there is an association between engaging in environmental volunteering activities and pro-environmental behavioural change. Utilising self-reported surveys, the article explores the potential impact that environmental volunteering has on people’s pro-environmental behaviours over time, using The Conservation Volunteers’ two volunteering programmes – Green Gyms® and Action Teams – as a comparative case study. The findings show a positive association between environmental volunteering activities and a person’s self-reported pro-environmental behaviours over time. Further, volunteers presented improved impact across almost all of the eight pro-environmental behaviours measured, with differences observed between the two volunteering programmes as well as sociodemographic groupings.

Normative Influences on Adolescents’ Self-Reported Pro-Environmental Behaviors: The Role of Parents and Friends

Pro-environmental behavioral patterns are influenced by relevant others’ actions and expectations. Studies about the intergenerational transmission of environmentalism have demonstrated that parents play a major role in their children’s pro-environmental actions. However, little is known about how other social agents may shape youth’s environmentalism. This cross-sectional study concentrates on the role that parents and peers have in the regulation of 12- to 19-year-olds’ pro-environmental behaviors. We also consider the common response bias effect by examining the associations between parents, peers, and adolescents’ pro-environmentalism in two independent data sets. Data Set 1 ( N = 330) includes adolescents’ perceptions of relevant others’ behaviors. Data Set 2 ( N = 152) includes relevant others’ self-reported pro-environmental behavior. Our results show that parents’ and peers’ descriptive and injunctive norms have a direct effect on adolescents’ pro-environmental behavior and an indirect one, through personal norms. Adolescents seem to be accurate in the perception of their close ones’ environmental actions.

The relationship between Corporate Environmental Responsibility, employees’ biospheric values and pro-environmental behaviour at work

Many organizations strive for Corporate Environmental Responsibility (CER). This can make organizational processes and procedures more pro-environmental, but does it also promote employees’ pro-environmental behaviour? We reason that CER can encourage employees to act pro-environmentally at work by increasing the likelihood that they consider the environmental consequences of their behaviour. In two studies, we test to what extent CER affects pro-environmental behaviour at work, and whether this depends on the extent to which employees value nature and the environment (i.e., endorse biospheric values). Both studies show that stronger biospheric values and perceived CER are related to more self-reported pro-environmental behaviour at work. Interestingly, the relationship between perceived CER and self-reported pro-environmental behaviour was stronger among those with moderate to weak biospheric values. These results suggest that relative weak biospheric values are less likely to inhibit pro-environmental behaviour at work when employees believe that their organization aims to realize CER.

Why young people do things for the environment: The role of parenting for adolescents’ motivation to engage in pro-environmental behaviour

It is well documented that parents' behaviour and family norms exert a significant influence on young people's pro-environmental attitudes and behaviour. But what is the role of parenting styles in this connection? The present study addresses this question based on a matched sample of young people aged 18–20 (n = 448) and one parent (n = 448), each completing an online questionnaire that included the Motivation Toward the Environment Scale, Perception of Parenting Styles Scale, and questions about perceived (by youth) parental and self-reported (by youth and parent) pro-environmental behaviours. We find that young people display less internalized motivation to ‘do things for the environment’ than their parents, but that their motivation to act in pro-environmental ways is rooted in family descriptive norms, parents' internalized motivation to act pro-environmentally, and the autonomy-supporting parenting style and structure prevalent in the home.

The complex relationship between personal sense of connection to animals and self-reported proenvironmental behaviors by zoo visitors.

The global biodiversity crisis requires an engaged citizenry that provides collective support for public policies and recognizes the consequences of personal consumption decisions. Understanding the factors that affect personal engagement in proenvironmental behaviors is essential for the development of actionable conservation solutions. Zoos and aquariums may be some of the only places where many people can explore their relations with wild animals and proenvironmental behaviors. Using a moderated-mediation analysis of a survey of U.S. zoo and aquarium visitors (n = 3588), we explored the relationship between the sense of connection to animals and self-reported engagement in proenvironmental behaviors related to climate change and how this relationship is affected by certainty that climate change is happening, level of concern about climate change, and perceptions of effectiveness in personally addressing climate change. We found a significant, directional relationship between sense of connection to animals and self-reported proenvironmental behaviors. Political inclination within the conservative to liberal spectrum did not affect the relationship. We conclude that a personal sense of connection to animals may provide a foundation for educational and communication strategies to enhance involvement in proenvironmental actions.

Testing a model linking environmental hope and self-control with students' positive emotions and environmental behavior

ABSTRACTThis study examined a moderated mediation model with 254 Israeli junior high school students, hypothesizing that students' environmental hope would simultaneously mediate the relationship between their engagement in school-based environmental activities (green engagement) and their environmental behavior as well as their positivity ratio, but that students' self-control skills would moderate these mediation processes. The results showed that engagement was linked to self-reported pro-environmental behavior, as well as experiencing more positive than negative emotions. Multigroup structural equation modeling indicated that the model provided a good fit to the data, and rigorous bootstrap analysis confirmed the simultaneous mediating role of environmental hope—but only for students with high self-control skills. The limitations and implications of the findings are discussed, and future directions are presented.

Environmental considerations in the organizational context: A pathway to pro-environmental behaviour at work

Encouraging pro-environmental behaviour at work can result in a significant reduction in environmental problems. Research revealed that general environmental considerations such as biospheric values and environmental self-identity are important antecedents of private pro-environmental behaviour. Yet, the question remains whether such general environmental considerations also predict pro-environmental behaviour at work. We propose a parsimonious theoretical model (the VIP-model) in which biospheric values affect personal norms to behave pro-environmentally at work and pro-environmental actions via the environmental self-identity. A study involving a diverse sample of employees from different European organizations supported the VIP-model, showing that biospheric values and environmental self-identity influence personal norms, and that stronger personal norms encouraged various self-reported pro-environmental behaviours at work to some extent. The VIP-model yields promising, cost-efficient strategies to encourage pro-environmental behaviour at work.

Encouraging pro-environmental behaviour: Energy use and recycling at Rhodes University, South Africa

The rapid expansion of student numbers, staff and support infrastructures in higher education institutions often result in increased demand for resources such as energy and paper. Promoting pro-environmental behaviour is critical if higher education institutions are to achieve sustainable resource use. Using surveys, reported energy use and recycling behaviour of staff and students in the Faculty of Education at Rhodes University, South Africa was explored. The results showed that self-reported pro-environmental behaviour was mediated by demographic factors and personal values such as ‘liking of aesthetic beauty and biodiversity’, ‘social relations’, ‘a varied life’ and ‘freedom’. Personal values, though key in shaping participants' attitudes toward the environment did not always translate into pro-environmental behaviour. Situational factors beyond the control of participants were cited as barriers to pro-environmental actions. Lessons from this study point to the need to carefully study the assumptions underlying intervention strategies aimed at promoting pro-environmental behaviour and to get rid of barriers to enable pro-environmental actions.

Understanding the multi-dimensional structure of pro-environmental behavior

We examined the multi-dimensional structure of pro-environmental behavior (PEB) in a mixed-methods study of rural residents of New York, USA. In Phase 1, we asked 41 landowners to identify a range of behaviors that might enhance local environmental quality. We then developed a 13-item PEB scale based on interview responses and literature review. In Phase 2, we incorporated this self-reported PEB scale into a survey of 1082 rural landowners and recreationists. Confirmatory factor analysis identified four key PEB domains: conservation lifestyle behaviors (e.g., household actions in the private sphere), social environmentalism (e.g., peer interactions and group membership), environmental citizenship (e.g., civic engagement in the policy arena), and land stewardship (e.g., support for wildlife and habitat conservation). Results revealed variable participation rates in each type of PEB, confirmed the need to account for land stewardship in rural settings, and highlighted challenges and opportunities for PEB assessment across various social and geographical contexts.

Are wildlife recreationists conservationists? Linking hunting, birdwatching, and pro-environmental behavior

There is a widely held assumption that outdoor experiences are a key precursor to pro-environmental behavior (PEB). We tested the hypothesis that wildlife recreationists are more likely than non-recreationists to voluntarily engage in different types of PEB, grouped as conservation behaviors and environmental lifestyle behaviors. Via mail and web-based surveys of rural New York residents (n = 941), we compared the self-reported PEBs of 4 types of recreationists: hunters, birdwatchers, hunter–birdwatchers (i.e., individuals who regularly engaged in both activities), and non-nature-based recreationists. We statistically controlled for group differences in socio-demographic characteristics and environmental beliefs. We found wildlife recreationists—both hunters and birdwatchers—were 4–5 times more likely than non-recreationists to engage in conservation behaviors, which included a suite of activities such as donating to support local conservation efforts, enhancing wildlife habitat on public lands, advocating for wildlife recreation, and participating in local environmental groups. Moreover, effects were additive; hunter–birdwatchers had the greatest likelihood of engaging in all types of conservation behaviors. On the other hand, engagement in environmental lifestyle behaviors such as recycling, energy conservation, and green purchasing were roughly comparable among all types of wildlife recreationists and non-recreationists. Our findings of elevated rates of conservation behaviors among hunters and birdwatchers despite different demographic attributes and environmental beliefs highlight the similar conservation potential associated with different types of wildlife recreation. Diversified strategies that include programs to encourage both hunting and birdwatching are likely to bring about long-term gains for conservation. © 2015 The Wildlife Society.

Self-efficacy or collective efficacy within the cognitive theory of stress model: Which more effectively explains people's self-reported proenvironmental behavior?

This study ascertained whether self-efficacy and collective efficacy in the cognitive theory of stress model explains people's self-reported proenvironmental behavior more effectively separately or in combination. A questionnaire study was conducted among 707 Taiwanese respondents. The results of structural equation modeling analysis corroborated previous findings that the cognitive theory of stress model can be applied to environmental problems to effectively explain people's self-reported proenvironmental behavior. Moreover, compared with self-efficacy, collective efficacy is a stronger predictor of people's problem-focused coping and self-reported proenvironmental behavior for respondents in this collectivist cultures; failing to include collective efficacy in the cognitive theory of stress model can reduce the power of the model to explain such behavior. The research results regarding the external validation and internal validation of the cognitive theory of stress model were elaborated in this study to more effectively understand people's self-reported proenvironmental behavior.

How far is your money from your mouth? The effects of intrinsic relative to extrinsic values on willingness to pay and protect the environment

The present research hypothesized that individuals placing a higher relative importance on intrinsic values such as affiliation and community feeling, as opposed to extrinsic and materialistic values such as the procurement of monies and prestige, would be more willing to protect the environment. In both 169 university students (M = 21.11, SD = 1.10) and 347 adults (M = 31.65, SD = 14.48) of Chinese ethnicity, the higher endorsement of intrinsic relative to extrinsic values was indeed related to a higher willingness to pay to protect the environment (Studies 1 and 2), and to self-reported pro-environmental behaviors (Study 2). In Study 3, intrinsic (n = 54) or extrinsic values (n = 53) were experimentally primed. Relative to a control group (n = 50), intrinsically primed participants donated significantly higher percentage of their hypothetical earnings, while extrinsically primed participants donated significantly lower percentage, to pro-environmental causes. The theoretical and practical implications of the relationship between intrinsic relative to extrinsic values and environmental conservation are discussed.